Just passed!

[stevelup]

Hi Folks,

Passed my DAS yesterday with Riding in Action (based in the old George White building in Swindon). Did it in four days having never even sat on a bike before doing my CBT.

Highly recommend those folks - my two instructors Steve and Martin were brilliant, and the bikes were almost new and in superb condition.

One fault on Mod 1 (1kph too slow for the e-stop) and a couple of faults on the Mod 2. The examiner (John) was a really nice chap too.

I've bought a slightly extravagant first bike - a BMW F800R which I absolutely love. Everything feels silky smooth and it makes a lovely noise. I did a couple of 30 minute rides yesterday and am beginning to get used to it. Very different to the Er6n I did the DAS on though.

I've ordered some crash bars for it, but other than that, I'm not going to fiddle with it for the time being.

I'd like to ask for a bit of advice if I may - really just about day-to-day maintenance. So queue a bunch of dumb questions:-

1) What's best to clean it with? Same stuff I use on my car - decent quality shampoo?

2) Chain - I know it needs cleaning and oiling, but how often and what's the process?

3) ACF-50 - should I? How often, how much, where?

Thanks!

[XanderZZR]

Congratulations on passing nice choice of bike as well.

I recommend the muc off bike products for cleaning, brings up a lovely shine (miracle shine for after the wash is brilliant).

I was my chain weekly and ride daily, keeps it nice and lubed, depends on how many miles you do and I. What weather... Have a check before you ride for slack and lube, it's a good practice to get into.

I would highly recommend acf50, will keep the corrosion away.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Congrats - you've done well there. As for #2, you can't really keep the chain too clean - a chain that's pampered will make gear changes much smoother and improve performance significantly against a bike with a neglected one. I personally have no time whatsoever for the waxy, spray type lubricants that come in aerosol form - though they are commonly used and have many advocates. But, afaic, the main benefit of such products is their anti-fling properties - i.e. the lack of splatter and mess they create. However, a thick gear oil like 80W90 is *far* superior - and much cheaper too. It's thick enough to remain on the chain, and won't get flung onto the wall of your rear tyre. You might find some slight residue of it on the swing arm etc. - but for the added benefits it brings this is negligible.

Clean the chain as often as you can - together with regular lubrication with thick oil, this will prolong its life considerably - and that of both sprockets too, of course. It will, e.g., help to avoid the development of seized links, which make for uneven tension along its length, creating e.g. an inch of play in one area and three or four somewhere else. Total pita.

Everyone has their preferred method of chain cleaning, but a little diesel on one of those three-sided chain brushes is as good a place to start as any. Finish off by wiping the excess diesel and crud off with a clean rag, then squirt some of the aforementioned heavy gear oil on. Just one pass of the chain will do, especially if you're undertaking this regularly. Fwiw I do it once every day or so.

ACF-50 - yeah, if you're going to commute and / or be out in the wet a lot. Otherwise, fuck it. No need.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[stevelup]

Thanks guys!

[Enaver]

Soon as I got my brand new bike I gave it a wash and ACF50'd it up. I went to town on my bike with that stuff, sprayed it all over and left it for 10 mins to spread everywhere. I then came back with a cloth of some sort and got rid of the excess amount of it (which there was loads of).

Just make sure you keep it off your breaks, something I completely forgot about and it made the breaks next to useless. However abit of break cleaner later and all was good.

I do my clean and lube my chain at the same time, which is around 300-500 miles mark. Used a grunge buster brush which works great for cleaning it.
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Honda CBR 500R Black
Yamaha YBR 125 Blue

[bikertomm]

Congrats!

For cleaning yeah you will want a decent shampoo, avoid using washing up liquid and the likes.

For cleaning and sorting out the chain this video is pretty good, if not a bit too in-depth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb1isb3yCAQ

It's worth noting an awful lot of people think all you need to do is spray on lube and think that's job done, it's important to clean the chain first with WD40 or whatever then apply lubricant

Unsure if your beemer will have a centre stand or not but if not a rear paddock stand may be of some use for jobs like this!

I usually do the chain every 4-500 miles.

As for ACF-50 I personally have no experience but I hear it's very good if you use the bike all year.

Enjoy
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[stevelup]

I'm weighing up whether or not to fit a centre stand. I've got the part numbers for the bits I need... They come to less than £100, so I think it's probably worth doing.

I'll be a fair weather rider - no intention of riding in grotty weather... except yesterday because I didn't have the willpower to resist having one little go on it...

So now it's one day old and completely filthy

[-Matt-]

Nice one

1) Washing - I'd use muc off or autoglym bike stuff, good range of stuff. Muc off brush set is worth its weight in gold i've found also.

2) Chain - every couple of hundred miles should be fine in normal conditions, if in the wet/winter etc then more often. Put it up on a stand/centre stand and spin the wheel giving it a good spray with chain cleaner [muc off again is fine]. Best to do this after a ride as it encourages the shite to come off once its warmed up a bit. Rub it down with a clothe until it looks clean. Then again go for short ride to warm up, come back and spray lube/wax/oil whatever you prefer onto the inner links while spinning the wheels. No need to drown it just an even liberal spraying. I personally use wurth dry chain wax as its clear and if it does flick doesn't leave speckles all over the wheels.

3) ACF-50 - If in the wet regularly and especially in the wet in winter definately - it goes a long way so don't go wild with it, putting it on a clothe and giving it a good wipe into the nooks and crannies will help. A good coating on lots of areas will last the whole of winter in some cases so you can just wash the layer of shit thats sat on top of it off at the start of spring. Some parts may need it more often though.

[Rogerborg]

Nicely done.

If that's the same Rotax twin as in the F800/700/650GS then keep a careful eye on the powder coating on the sump and at all the leading edges, it does seem prone to flaking.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Mark 37]

Congratulations, well done.

If your tight like me (don't think you are from your OP) warm water & fairy liquid every couple of runs (except in winter after every run). T-Cut 2-3 times a year. Turtle wax every second or third wash.

Petrol out the tank with a chain brush every 200-250 miles lubed up with what you prefer. I'm using Holts chain lube just now. That's what the shop had at the time.

AC-50 every fourth or fifth wash, every second wash in winter.

As you can see with the responses it's whatever works for you but I'm quite anal about having a nice shiny bike.

Mark
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No matter how fast light travels, darkness was always their first.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Well done mate
all done in one week, that's impressive.

Enjoy, now the fun really begins!